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Working With Tile
Tile is a great medium to work with because of its beauty, pattern, texture and color.
Before selecting material we need to consider the style, scale of the room, pattern, utility, and finish. Tile is available in glossy, matt and rustic finishes. These are important not only for the look you want, but also for the functionality and maintenance.
Appropriate application is important too. Floor tile can be used on walls, but wall tile may not be used on floors. Tile has different ratings for grade, traction, water absorption, frost resistance and color variation.
As an interior designer I can help you balance these consideration, identify a style, then select the appropriate material for each area designated for tile.
There is a wide selection of material available today: Saltilo from Mexico, Travertine, Marble, Granite, Ceramic, Slate and Porcelain. Each has its own distinctive qualities, advantages and disadvantages.
Some terminology you to be acquainted with are as follows: Field Tile is the main tile that fills much of the space; Accent tiles are used to decorate add a little punch; Listellos are usually long narrow pieces to form trim and borders usually decorative; Bullnose is a border with a round edge used to give a finished edge where tile meets other surfaces; Mosaics are usually tiny pieces fused onto a mesh sheet for ease of application.
There are about as many patterns as you can think of: diamond, square, subway and random. These patterns and their corresponding size need to work together with the scale of the room to look balanced.
The installation process is huge in my opinion. Y0u can always find someone to do it cheaper. Slap it and stick it we call it. But, come back in 2 – 5 years and see if its still holding together or if its growing things that lifts it from the surface below. It is critical to consider the subfloor, the substrate, the pan, waterproofing, grout width, caulking and sealing. I’ve been in million dollar homes that had tile falling off the edge of the counter only after a couple of years use – go figure!
Tile is a beautiful product to work with, but it requires planning to get it all to work right. You have probably have heard it said that “everything is a science.” That is true with tile as well. To do it right requires some research if you’re a do it yourselfer, or you need to work with someone who has experience and expertise with flooring products. I can recommend a great designer I know to help in this area.
